Job 23

1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,

Then Job answered and said,

2 Now also my word is in bitternesse, and the hond of my wounde is agreggid on my weilyng.

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Who yyueth to me, that Y knowe, and fynde hym, and come `til to his trone?

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

4 Y schal sette doom bifor hym, and Y schal fille my mouth with blamyngis;

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 that Y kunne the wordis, whiche he schal answere to me, and that Y vnderstonde, what he schal speke to me.

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 Y nyle, that he stryue with me bi greet strengthe, nether oppresse me with the heuynesse of his greetnesse.

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

7 Sette he forth equite ayens me, and my doom come perfitli to victorie.

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 If Y go to the eest, God apperith not; if Y go to the west, Y schal not vndurstonde hym; if Y go to the left side,

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 what schal Y do? Y schal not take hym; if Y turne me to the riyt side, Y schal not se hym.

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 But he knowith my weie, and he schal preue me as gold, that passith thorouy fier.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot suede hise steppis; Y kepte his weie, and Y bowide not awey fro it.

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Y yede not awei fro the comaundementis of hise lippis; and Y hidde in my bosum the wordis of his mouth.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 For he is aloone, and no man may turne awei hise thouytis; and what euer thing he wolde, his wille dide this thing.

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 Whanne he hath fillid his wille in me, also many othere lijk thingis ben redi to hym.

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 And therfor Y am disturblid of his face, and Y biholdynge hym am anguyschid for drede.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 God hath maad neische myn herte, and Almyyti God hath disturblid me.

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

17 For Y perischide not for derknessis neiyynge; nethir myist hilide my face.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.